Promoting Appropriate Management of Diarrhea: A Systematic Review of Literature for Advocacy and Action: UNICEF-PHFI Series on Newborn and Child Health, India

Childhood diarrhea is a significant public health problem in India; the point (two-weeks) prevalence is 9-20%. Diarrhea accounts for 14% of the total deaths in under-five children in India. Infants aged 6-24 months are at the highest risk of diarrhea. There is a lack of robust nation-wide data on etiology; rotavirus and diarrheogenic E.coli are the most common organisms identified. The review was conducted to identify, synthesize and summarize current evidence to guide scaling up of management of diarrhea among under-five children in India, and identify existing knowledge gaps.The review reaffirms the high burden of childhood diarrhea and deaths due to it in India and the role of ORS and Zinc in preventing deaths, and hand washing and breast-feeding in preventing its occurrence.

This review summarizes current evidence on childhood diarrhea and provides evidence to inform child health programs in India.

Systematic Review- Promoting Appropriate Management of Diarrhea